BeansTalk News: Daily news on fashion, beauty, film, television, books -- all media -- and anything else of relevant interest. (View the current month in its news entirety by clicking the date under Archives.)

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Designer Vince Camuto and Guest at the Foundation Fighting Blindness Dining in the Dark event.

WHAT: The Foundation Fighting Blindness hosted THE FASHION BALL: DINING IN THE DARK on May 25th at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park to honor fashion visionaries who have supported the organization’s urgent mission to drive research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

Dining in the Dark was a rare and unique sensory adventure that took guests on a journey of taste, smell, sound and touch…all in the dark. For about 30 minutes, attendees enjoyed their entrée using only these senses, to get a glimpse into the lives of the blind. Visually impaired servers, who were trained specifically for the dinner to use a system of ropes and stanchions, helped guests navigate through this new experience. It served as a memorable backdrop as the Foundation Fighting Blindness honored extraordinary individuals who made a lasting impression on the fashion community and on the lives of more than 10 million Americans living with blinding retinal diseases.

“Dining in the Dark truly heightens awareness about the challenges visually impaired individuals experience every day,” said Foundation Fighting Blindness CEO Bill Schmidt. “We’re thrilled to recognize the contributions of these fashion industry leaders as we come together to support promising research to ensure brighter futures for people living in darkness.”

Guests also enjoyed the musical entertainment of Los Gatos del Barrio, a New York based Latino band of legally blind musician.

Clarks Women's Brisk Pixie Thong Sandal
You can bring a bit of spring to both your style and your step with the Brisk Pixie thong from Clarks. A pair of soft leather flowers will add whimsy and charm to any casual outfit, while its cushioned footbed and flexible sole make it as comfy as it is sweet.
materials:
• Leather upper
• Manmade sole
measurements:
• Heel measures approximately 1"
• Platform measures approximately 1/2"
country of origin:
• China
$70 Endless

Nara Shoes Women's 41335 Thong Sandal
Crumpled leather creates a festive floral look on the vamp of this thong-style from Nara. Comfy too, the sandal features a smooth leather-lined footbed and soft, flexible toe post to help minimize the irritation. The paper-thin sole and barely-there heel give it a barefoot-like feel, making it an easy and stylish accompaniment to the current boho and gypsy trend.
materials:
• Leather upper
• Leather sole
measurements:
• Heel measures approximately 1/8"
country of origin:
• Italy
$78 Endless.com

Wild Diva Women's Sienna-05 Thong Sandal
Add some flower power to your warm-weather looks in the Sienna-05 sandal from Wild Diva. The thong-style upper features pretty floral detailing with rhinestone accents but leaves plenty of skin exposed, while a bit of a wedge heel gives you a luscious lift. So this minimalist shoe makes a big statement every time you wear it—especially when paired with shorts, denim or a bohemian-inspired summer dress
materials:
• Synthetic upper
• Rubber sole
measurements:
• Heel measures approximately 3/4"
country of origin:
• China

BCBGeneration Women's Gilda Thong Sandal
When can you call a flip flop fantastic? When it sports the kind of sassy style you’ll find all over the Gilda sandal from BCBGeneration. The upper boasts the classic v-strapping and toe-bar, but it’s all made of jelly rubber and topped off with a rubber flower glimmering at the center with a crystallized logo. We also adore the cushy and cute animal-print footbed.
materials:
• Rubber upper
• Synthetic lining
• Manmade sole
measurements:
• Heel measures approximately 0.75"
• Platform measures approximately 0.5"
country of origin:
• China
$24 Endless.com

Thursday, May 26, 2011

by Elizabeth Vidar(Special to BeansTalk)Founder and PresidentZoo Magnet Community Outreach Club

When a family hears the news that their child has a little-known chromosomal deletion syndrome, the last thing they want to be is alone.

On Sunday morning, zoos all over the world celebrated "22Q at the Zoo," an awareness day for 22Q Deletion, more commonly known as DiGeorge Syndrome.

The syndrome is caused by a missing section of chromosome 22, a disorder which is present from the time of conception. 22Q Deletion can lead to many problems including cleft palate, heart defects, kidney problems, hearing loss, and developmental delays.

Dr. Pedro Sanchez, MD, Pediatric Clinical Geneticist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and USC, took organizing the event at the Los Angeles Zoo into his own hands, inviting over 30 families to attend.

Children of varying ages and their families arrived at the zoo with smiles on their faces, and were given the opportunity to meet families going through the same thing that they are.

One family I spoke to had never been to the Zoo. Their little boy was ecstatic to see the zebras. Not only were these families given the opportunity to meet each other, they were also able to inform the public about 22Q Deletion Syndrome. Equipped with “Ask Me About 22Q” pins, and flyers with facts about the syndrome, families and volunteers spread awareness about this surprisingly common syndrome.

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Foundationhttp://22q.org/overview.php

The International 22q11.2 Foundationhttps://www.facebook.com/22QFoundation

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Actress Angelina Jolie poses alone and with partner, actor Brad Pitt at the premiere of "The Tree of Life" at LACMA in Los Angeles May 24, 2011. The movie opens limitedly in the U.S. on May 27. Jolie wore a gown by Jenny Packham. The beautiful actress selected a poppy one shoulder silk chiffon draped gown with a velvet waistband from the British designer. Jolie also wore nude satin HITURN platforms by Stuart Weitzman.

To achieve: David always begins every red carpet look with clean hair followed by applying Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment (now available at www.sephora.com ) to the entire head. (Pequi Oil is derived from the Pequi fruit, known for centuries as the beauty secret of the Amazon Rainforest.) The formula absorbs instantly and gives the hair a natural luster and shine. Once applied to Nicole’s hair, then parted the hair in the left and rough dried the hair. He used a one inch curling iron on the bangs, he continuously wrapped and released each strand, very quickly and then pulling on the ends to create more of a wave than a full curl. He rotated the curling iron in multiple directions to add dimension. He then took the hair to the right side and created a long side braid. After he was done, he applied an additional bit of the Pequi Oil Treatment from the part of the hair to mid-length to smooth the hair and prevent flyaway’s.

Monday, May 23, 2011

BeansTalk Note: Jeff Bridges is one our top two all-time favorite interviews. It's stunning how normal and nice he is!

An Oscar-winner for his portrayal of a grizzled former country music legend in the 2009 film Crazy Heart, actor, songwriter, and musician Jeff Bridges will release his self-titled major-label debut album on August 16th, 2011, on Blue Note Records. The album is being produced by Bridges’ Crazy Heart collaborator, the multiple-Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician, and producer T Bone Burnett. It is an organic extension and culmination of his personal, professional, and now musical friendship with Burnett, whom he has known for more than 30 years.

Recorded in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, NY, Jeff Bridges features material by a host of world-class songwriters, including Burnett’s Crazy Heart collaborators the late Stephen Bruton (“What A Little Bit of Love Can Do,” “Nothing Yet”) and John Goodwin (“Maybe I Missed The Point,” “Everything But Love,” “The Quest”), Greg Brown (“Blue Car”), and Bo Ramsay (“Either Way”).

The album also features several of Bridges’ own compositions, including “Falling Short,” “Tumbling Vine,” I Will Wait” (which he wrote with Burnett and John Goodwin) and “Slow Boat” (which he wrote with Burnett and Thomas Cobb). To perform the songs, Burnett assembled a number of his key repertory players, including keyboardist Keefus Ciancia, guitarist Mark Ribot, bassist Dennis Crouch, pedal-steel guitarist Russ Pahl, and drummer Jay Bellerose, as well as guest vocalists Rosanne Cash, Ryan Bingham, Sam Phillips, and Benji Hughes.

Bridges and Burnett, who is known for his work with Allison Krauss and Robert Plant, Elton John and Leon Russell, and the Grammy-winning soundtracks to O Brother, Where Are Thou?, and Walk the Line, met in 1980 when Kris Kristofferson introduced them during the filming of the motion picture Heaven’s Gate. The relationship has continued over the years as Burnett selected the songs that appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, starring Bridges, as well as co-wrote several songs for the soundtrack to Crazy Heart, including “The Weary Kind,” which earned Burnett his second Oscar nomination and first win for “Best Original Song,” along with Bingham, who also took home an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy Award for co-writing “The Weary Kind.”

Bridges currently appears on the cover of Esquire Magazine’s music issue.

Friday, May 20, 2011

PBS will offer up three new Poirot's starting on 19 June 2011, starting with:

“Poirot XI: Three Act Tragedy”
Poirot (David Suchet) visits his friend Sir Charles Cartwright (Martin Shaw, “Cranford”), who hosts a cocktail party at his home where a local reverend chokes to death. Murder seems impossible, but when a second guest dies under similar circumstances, the Belgian sleuth investigates further. Art Malik (“Upstairs Downstairs”) and Kate Ashfield (“Collision”) co-star.